Microalgae to Energy

Beneficiation and upgrading of discarded coal and coal fines using the microalgae biomass.

Conversion of the coal-microalgae composites (Coalgae™) into energy products such as bio-crude oil, synthetic gas and clean coal.

Based on pilot plant data, a 100 hectare microalgae cultivation facility will produce sufficient biomass for upgrading 200,000 tons of discard coal per annum to yield 220,000 tons of Coalgae™. Low temperature pyrolysis of the Coalgae™ will produce 150,000 tons of clean coal and

280,000 barrels of a light crude oil that can be further refined to liquid fuels.

Advantages
Coalgae™ is a biomass-rich fuel made from a waste product that can be used as a direct replacement
for coal. The microalgae allows selective recovery of coal fines from mineral contaminants in the waste coal, thus providing a cleaner and upgraded coal product.

The microalgae cultivation system developed is cost comparable to open pond raceways, but has lower water losses and greater microalgae yields (0.6g/L dry mass). The carbon dioxide and micronutrients required for microalgae cultivation can be sourced from flue gas emissions produced by coal-fired power stations and other industries, thus reducing point source carbon emissions.

Progress
Coalgae™ is the first market-ready product of the technology. The production technology has been demonstrated over three years on a pilot plant at the NMMU capable of producing 5 tons of Coalgae™ per annum. A micro-demonstration plant is being built to produce 20 tons of Coalgae™ per annum. A basic engineering study for a 1 hectare demonstration plant has been completed by Hatch-Goba.

The conversion of Coalgae™ to energy products is under development at a pilot scale. The development work has shown that the conversion produces fuels that can be further refined for commercial use.